GVL Data | League leaders pave the way

By Josh Huntly

Jun 25, 2023

Brilliant Bombers: Kyabram ruckman Zac Norris has been effective in the ruck and at ground level for his team. Photo: Aydin Payne

Brilliant Bombers: Kyabram ruckman Zac Norris has been effective in the ruck and at ground level for his team. Photo: Aydin Payne Photo by Aydin Payne

With 11-and-a-half rounds completed in the Goulburn Valley League season, the stars of the league have established themselves in a number of key statistical categories.

In the engine room, several Morrison Medal frontrunners sit at the top of the table.

Rochester’s Joe Atley is first for total disposals (311), one ahead of Euroa’s Will Hayes.

But Atley also has the advantage in the contested possessions stakes with 149, 18 more than Kyabram ruckman Zac Norris.

Centre clearances (35) are also the domain of Atley, who will resume his season this weekend when Rochester hosts Shepparton Swans at Moon Oval.

Tigers teammate Mitch Cricelli has reeled in the most contested marks of anyone in the competition with 27, hotly pursued by Kyabram’s Lachlan Smith with (26).

Smith leads the way in overall marks (79) and intercept marks (41) and has been a key cog in the Bombers’ efforts to jump into first place on the ladder.

Norris, a veritable fourth midfielder for the Bombers, has been more than adept at following up his ruck taps, leading the GVL for clearances with 93 so far.

Norris and his ruck dominance, coupled with inside-50 leader Kaine Herbert (63, 43 effective) has crafted a formidable challenge for opposition midfields.

Meanwhile, the tackling crown belongs to Echuca’s Sam Reid with 78.

While the goal-kicking race has been a lean affair in 2023, there is still time with eight games remaining for the forwards to solidify their claim to the O’Toole Cup.

At present, it’s Mooroopna duo Jackson Trengove and Chris Nield leading proceedings, with Trengove converting 28 and Nield close behind with 26.

Shepparton United’s Jayden Magro and Mansfield’s Ben Christopher are tied for third with 24 goals, but Rochester’s Sean Williams has been a late addition to the top five with 23 majors to his name, rounding out the top five.

Williams’s best haul of six came in Benalla in round eight.